MO PATTERN Mode: Real Time Loop Remix

PATTERN Mode: REAL TIME LOOP REMIX
Mastering this unique tool, originally developed for the RS7000 Music Production Studio, can bring you closer to permanently ending writer’s block. Real Time Loop Remix is as close as a product has come yet to a “talent button”. Seriously…we laugh about this but think of it this way: When you hire a musician to play drums, guitar or bass in your band you want them to bring something special to that role. You often encourage them to add their own ideas to yours and bring some life into the music.

Real Time Loop Remix can take MIDI phrase data and restructure it – giving you new and often stunning results – it creates a new MIDI phrase. It is like handing a chart to a real good player – one who can take your idea and offers you variations on your theme. If you don’t fully understand the concept of the Pattern Phrase – this feature will bring it into clearer focus.

Each Phrase, which is defined as any recording on a Pattern Section track, can be associated with a sound and can be used as a building block. The Pattern PATCH function – allows you to mix and match Phrases. A MO Pattern Phrase controls the playback. The Real Time Loop Remix takes the controlling MIDI phrase and like a magical musical Cuisinart (tm), spins the phrase into a new one.

Since the Real Time Loop Remix is rearranging the MIDI data it will work on any Pattern Phrase. There are 687 Drum Phrases in the MO Pattern Phrase Library – there are more than a thousand Remix algorithms – there are an untold number of phrases you can create …the possibilities are truly endless. You can Remix the Remix, and then Remix it again. If you have ever attempted, manually, what this does automatically (you will want to sue somebody to get those days back) you will appreciate how fast and easy this function makes manipulating data.

The MO does this in real time!!! It was designed to work on drum loops, but as you will quickly see, it can be used on any MIDI Pattern Phrase with unbelievably great results. This is probably one of the most compelling tools for creating “new” from “old”, “cool” from “lame”, “awesome” from the “mediocre”.

Does it always come up with something useable? – well, no! That’s your job to tell it when it has and when it hasn’t – you play producer. Real Time Loop Remix it. Have fun!

Real Time Loop Remix
This function gives you a variety of semi-random presets for dividing the MIDI sequence data and altering the note positions and note lengths, letting you create completely new variations of a Pattern. This function can be applied to any MIDI phrase whether or not it is a drum groove.

Set up the parameters (outlined below), and then press the [ENTER] button to execute the Remix operation. You can press the Play button at this point to hear the results of the Remix. If you’re not satisfied with the results, try another Type/Variation and press [ENTER]. If you want to keep the changes, press [SF5] OK. To return to the original display without altering the data, press the [SF4] CANCEL button.

Since the remixed data is stored as a new phrase and assigned to the current track, the original phrase data remains as an unassigned phrase. For example, if you record a simple drum groove in User Phrase 001, if you press [ENTER] to REMIX the phrase and then press [SF5] OK, the Remix will create a new User Phrase in the lowest numbered empty User Phrase location - i.e., User 002. It will automatically “Patch” this new Phrase into the Section, leaving the original Phrase (usr:001) unassigned but available if you need to recall it. Each new Phrase that you CREATE is added to your library of User Phrases. You can have a maximum of 256 User Phrases per Pattern Style.

Type Determines how the data in the selected track will be divided and rearranged. The division and rearrangement rules are different for each remix type. The type is also shown graphically in the display and gives a general idea of where the activity is concentrated.
Settings: 1~16

VariationDetermines how the original MIDI sequence data will be modified.
Settings: Normal 1~16, Break 1~16, Roll 1~16, Fill 1~48
· Normal 1~16 The original data is only divided and rearranged. 16 variations are provided.
· Break 1~16 In addition to division and rearrangement, some portions of the data may be deleted to create breaks. 16 variations are provided.
· Roll 1~16 In addition to division and rearrangement, some portions of the data may be played with a roll effect. 16 variations are provided.
· Fill 1~48 In addition to division and rearrangement, some portions of the data may be played with a roll effect. 48 variations are provided.

Each combination of TYPE and VARIATION will give a consistent result when applied to the same data. In other words, if you apply TYPE 1, VARIATION NORMAL 1 to the exact same phrase – the result will be exactly the same each time. Therefore, you can count on the results if ever you need to return. Applied to different data of course, the results will be different – like when applied to a variation of the original phrase – but each time applied to the same data, the results will be predictable.

You can use the MO’s arpeggiator to “paint” a track with a Phrase, perhaps a bass line (recording it to a Pattern track), then send that Phrase into the REAL TIME LOOP REMIX algorithm and twist it into half a dozen variations. It will use the notes of the Phrase but change their timing and position, making a related phrase that can be auditioned against the rest of the tracks. Once a new Phrase is created, it, in turn, can be REMIXED again and again – there is no limit to the number of times you can alter the notes. All this can happen in real time, making the Phrase Factory concept a fabulous tool for creating new tracks. 

Let’s Remix
Call up a new PATTERN and record a drum Phrase – for the purpose of this explanation
The MO will automatically “Patch” this user Phrase into the Section grid.

• Press PATTERN to return to the main Pattern screen.
• Press [F4] to view the PATCH setup up

Your new User Phrase usr:001 is placed on track 1
• Press [JOB]
• Press [F4] PHRASE

Scroll down to Job #09 Phrase Name
Name it something appropriate if you wish. The name appears on the top line when the phrase is highlighted. Also notice that the phrase time signature and length are also shown:

User Phrase:001 “[ ______ ]”; 4/4 time; M001 one measure in length
(any length can be used up to 256 but you should be practical and work on phrases from 1-8 measures in length) .

Now let’s create some variations using the REAL TIME LOOP REMIX function.

• Return the main Pattern screen
• Press PLAY [>].
• Press [F5] REMIX

How the remix works:
Each time you select a TYPE and VARIATION and then press [ENTER], the REAL TIME LOOP REMIX function will alter the data. “CANCEL” and “OK” appear above [SF4] and [SF5] respectively, allowing you to reset or accept the results.
_ If you “Cancel” the original data returns and the Patch remains the same.
_ If you accept, press [SF5] OK, a new user phrase is created and will be “patched” to the Section grid in the lowest available USER PHRASE number, in this case USR:002. Your original data remains as an unassigned phrase at USR:001 (you can recall this manually by simply “re-patching” the USR:001 phrase. You can recall this or any phrase in any SECTION on any Track. 

TYPE: 1-16 – the higher the number the more complex
VARIATION: Normal, Break, Roll and Fill-in.
• Normal will rearrange the data
• Break will gate certain of the segments by making the MIDI event a staccato note.
• Roll will play certain of the segments in a drum roll fashion.
• Fill will combine straight rearrangement of data and may add rolls

Things to try
Use the PATCH function to recall a Preset Drum groove. There are 687 preset drum grooves:

DR1:001 ~ DR1:227
DR2:001 ~ DR2:181
DR3:001 ~ DR3:162
DR4:001 ~ DR4:117

Try applying any of the TYPE/VARIATIONS to them. If you get something that you like, ‘create’ it as a User Phrase by pressing [F5] OK. In this manner you can create your own drum fills, breaks etc. Do not be afraid to try it on any kind of MIDI data, although originally conceived for use with drum loops, you will find it very affective on everything from bass lines to horn riffs to clav parts. Remember it uses the notes that you have played so it will always be in key. The MIDI phrases that it creates can be used as is, or you can further edit, append, split, copy and/or paste them, as necessary.